Separator hanger for enabling constrained positioning of a packaging fabric insert in an image forming device

Abstract

A separator hanger has a body with forward and rearward portions and a central portion interconnecting the forward and rearward portions. The rearward portion has side wing sections extending laterally in opposite directions beyond opposite side edges of the central portion with respective elements thereon adapted to extend through first slots in a packaging insert. The rearward portion also has a tail section between the side wing sections with an element thereon adapted to extend through a second slot in the packaging insert located between and offset from the first slots. Such elements provide the rearward portion in a threaded relationship with the packaging insert so as to detachably attach the rearward portion thereto. The forward portion is adapted to anchor the body to one portion of a device so as to thereby constrain the packaging insert to a position clear of another portion of the device located nearby the packaging insert.

1. A separator hanger, comprising:
 a body having forward and rearward portions and a central portion extending between and interconnecting said forward and rearward portions, said central portion having opposite side edges extending between said forward and rearward portions; 
 wherein said rearward portion of said body includes:
 a pair of side wing sections extending laterally in opposite directions with respect to one another and respectively beyond said opposite side edges of said central portion, said side wing sections having respective elements adapted to extend through respective first slots in a packaging insert, and 
 a tail section disposed between said side wing sections and having an element adapted to extend through a second slot in the packaging insert located between and offset from the first slots in the packaging insert such that said elements of said tail and side wing sections respectively provide said rearward portion of said body in a threaded relationship with the packaging insert so as to detachably attach said rearward portion of said body to the packaging insert; and 
 
 wherein said forward portion of said body is adapted to anchor said body to one portion of a device so as to thereby constrain the packaging insert to a position clear of another portion of the device located nearby the packaging insert. 
 
     
     
       2. The hanger of  claim 1  wherein said forward, rearward and central portions of said body substantially occupy a common plane. 
     
     
       3. The hanger of  claim 1  wherein said body is made of a flexible plastic material. 
     
     
       4. The hanger of  claim 1  wherein said element of said tail section is a rearward extending center tab located on said rearward portion of said body and adapted to insert through the second slot in the packaging insert. 
     
     
       5. The hanger of  claim 4  wherein said rearward portion of said body also includes a pair of notches defined respectively adjacent to opposite lateral sides of said center tab so as to separate said center tab of said tail section from said side wing sections to enable insertion of said center tab through the second slot in the packaging insert. 
     
     
       6. The hanger of  claim 4  wherein said elements of said side wing sections are side tabs connected to and extending forward from front edges of said side wing sections and spaced laterally from said opposite side edges of said central portion to enable insertion of said side tabs through the respective first slots in the packaging insert such that said side tabs and said center tab respectively provide said rearward portion of said body in the threaded relationship with the packaging insert so as to detachably attach said rearward portion of said body to the packaging insert. 
     
     
       7. The hanger of  claim 6  further comprising:
 an adhesive strip adapted to be applied across said side tabs and center tab of said rearward portion of said body when said rearward portion in the threaded relationship with the packaging insert so as to reinforce the detachable attachment of said rearward portion of said body to the packaging insert. 
 
     
     
       8. The hanger of  claim 1  wherein said forward portion of said body includes a head connected with said central portion of said body and having rear segments extend laterally in opposite directions with respect to said opposite side edges of said central portion of said body, said forward portion also having a pair of slits between said rear segments and said opposite side edges of said central portion and open solely at respective rear edges of said rear segments adjacent to said opposite side edges of said central portion to enable fitting of the one portion of the device through said slits and thereby anchoring of said head of said forward portion of said body to the one portion of the device. 
     
     
       9. A separator hanger, comprising:
 a body having forward and rearward portions and a central portion extending between and interconnecting said forward and rearward portions, said central portion having opposite side edges extending between said forward and rearward; 
 wherein said rearward portion of said body includes sections extending laterally beyond said opposite side edges of said central portion and rearwardly from said central portion to adapt detachably attaching said rearward portion of said body to a packaging insert; and 
 wherein said forward portion of said body is adapted to anchor said body to one portion of a device so as to thereby constrain the packaging insert to a position clear of another portion of the device located nearby the packaging insert, said forward portion of said body including a head connected with said central portion of said body and having rear segments extend laterally in opposite directions with respect to said opposite side edges of said central portion of said body, said forward portion also having a pair of slits between said rear segments and said opposite side edges of said central portion and open solely at respective rear edges of said rear segments adjacent to said opposite side edges of said central portion to enable fitting of the one portion of the device through said slits and thereby anchoring of said head of said forward portion of said body to the one portion of the device so as to thereby constrain the packaging insert to the position clear of the another portion of the device located nearby the packaging insert. 
 
     
     
       10. The hanger of  claim 9  wherein said opposite side edges of said central portion converge toward one another going from said rearward portion thereof to said forward portion thereof so as to provide said central portion with a tapered configuration. 
     
     
       11. The hanger of  claim 10  wherein said head on said forward portion of said body has an arrowhead configuration which together with said tapered configuration of said central portion of said body indicate to an end-user the direction in which said hanger should be pulled for removal prior to installation. 
     
     
       12. The hanger of  claim 9  wherein said rearward portion of said body includes a pair of side wing sections extending laterally in opposite directions with respect to one another and respectively beyond said opposite side edges of said central portion, said side wing sections having respective elements adapted to engage the packaging insert. 
     
     
       13. The hanger of  claim 12  wherein said rearward portion of said body also includes a tail section disposed between said side wing sections and having an element adapted to engage the packaging insert such that said elements of said tail and side wing sections respectively adapt said rearward portion of said body to detachably attach to the packaging insert. 
     
     
       14. The hanger of  claim 13  wherein said element of said tail section is a rearward extending center tab located on said rearward portion of said body and adapted to insert through a slot in the packaging insert. 
     
     
       15. The hanger of  claim 14  wherein said rearward portion of said body also includes a pair of notches defined respectively adjacent to opposite lateral sides of said center tab so as to separate said center tab of said tail section from said side wing sections to enable insertion of said center tab through the slot in the packaging insert. 
     
     
       16. The hanger of  claim 14  wherein said elements of said side wing sections are side tabs connected to and extending forward from front edges of said side wing sections and spaced laterally from said opposite side edges of said central portion to enable insertion of said side tabs through respective slots in the packaging insert such that said side tabs and said center tab respectively provide said rearward portion of said body in a threaded relationship with the packaging insert so as to detachably attach said rearward portion of said body to the packaging insert. 
     
     
       17. A separator hanger, comprising:
 a body made of flexible material and having forward and rearward portions and a central portion extending between and interconnecting said forward and rearward portions, said central portion having opposite side edges extending between said rearward and forward portions; 
 wherein said rearward portion of said body includes a pair of side wing sections extending laterally in opposite directions with respect to one another and beyond said respective opposite side edges of said central portion; 
 wherein said rearward portion of said body also includes a central tab and a pair of notches defined in said rearward portion, each of said notches located adjacent to one of a pair of opposite lateral sides of said center tab so as to separate said center tab from said side wing sections to enable insertion of said center tab through one slot in a packaging insert; 
 wherein said rearward portion of said body further includes a pair of side tabs each connected to and extending forwardly from a front edge of one of said side wing sections and spaced laterally from said opposite side edges of said central portion of said body to enable insertion of said side tabs through respective other slots in the packaging insert such that said side tabs and said center tab respectively provide said rearward portion of said body in a threaded relationship with the packaging insert so as to detachably attach said rearward portion of said body to the packaging insert; and 
 wherein said forward portion of said body includes a head connected with said central portion of said body and rear segments connected with and extend laterally in opposite directions with respect to one another from said opposite side edges of said central portion of said body, and a pair of slits formed in said rear segments of said head so as to open at respective rear edges of said rear segments adjacent to said side edges of said central portion of said body to enable fitting of one portion of a device through said slits and thereby anchoring of said head of said forward portion of said body to the one portion of the device so as to thereby constrain the packaging insert to a position clear of another portion of the device located nearby the packaging insert. 
 
     
     
       18. The hanger of  claim 17  wherein said center tab terminates in a rear edge that is generally aligned with rear edges on said side wing sections. 
     
     
       19. The hanger of  claim 17  wherein said opposite side edges of said central portion converge toward one another going from said rearward portion thereof to said forward portion thereof so as to provide said central portion with a tapered configuration. 
     
     
       20. The hanger of  claim 19  wherein said head on said forward portion of said body has an arrowhead configuration which together with said tapered configuration of said central portion of said body indicate to an end-user the direction in which said hanger should be pulled for removal prior to installation.